Method for separating a bundle of plural sheets

ABSTRACT

Method of separating a bundle of plural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper, including lineally advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbing the bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedly probing the leading edge of said bundle at the top during said advancing so as to separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane. The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

United States Patent Hart et al.

[54] METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF PLURAL SHEETS [72] Inventors:Charles H. Hart, Nazareth, Par; George R. Cashau, Philipsburg, NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Newspaper Publishers Association ResearchInstitute, Incorporated, Easton, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 75,099

[52] US. Cl ..270/57 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 5/30 [58] Field of Search..270/55, 57,54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,095 7/1889 Fowler et al..270/41 881,305 3/1908 Curry et al ....270/57 1,616,061 2/1927 Nelson....270/57 1,845,412 2/1932 Hathaway ....270/55 1 Feb. 1,1972

1,883,307 l0/l932 Livingston et al. ..270/55 3,052,463 9/1962 Snyder..270/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 358,444 l/l962 Sweden ..270/57Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-L. R. OremlandAtt0rneyDavid H. Semmes [5 7] ABSTRACT Method of separating a bundle ofplural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper, includinglineally advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbingthe bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedlyprobing the leading edge of said bundle at the top during said advancingso as to separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane.

The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaperprior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classifiedadvertising, book review supplements, and the like.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEBFEB H972 3,638,936

SHEET 18F 41 IO WM// Mi l: 2

I A. LINEALLY ADVANCING A FOLDED NEWSPAPER i 2 l6 2 Z'T: mmmmgq f 1 11j! 11 11 11 G B. ROTATABLY GRABBING THE BOTTOM EDGE WHILE ADVANCING IOI4 M 8 2 E 5 Y 3 I 2 6 l2 L 4: 4J4? g1 11 11 11 u 11- c- POINTEDLYPROBING MEMO THE LEADING EDGE CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEYPATENTED FEB -1 m7? 3.638.936

sun-:1 3 HF FIG. 4

INV ENTORS CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY PAIENIEDFEh 1m3.638.936 SHEET BF 4 mFLmmFL 2 INVENTOIS CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R.CASHAU M mm,

IIO

ATTORNEY v METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE F PLURAL SHEETSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l.Field of the Invention In the newspaper industry, increased attention isbeing given to methods for stuffing the printed newspaper with inserts,such as classified advertising, TV guides, or other feature supplements.Conventionally, one to four inserts may accompany the daily and Sundayeditions. The recent increase in post office bulk mailing rates hascontributed to the popularity Fowler and Henkle 408,095 Curry and Linn88l,30$ Nelson l,6l6,06l Hathaway |,845,4l2 Livingston, et al.l,fl83,307 Snyder 3,052,463

These references disclose separating the newspapers with mechanicalspreaders and vacuum techniques.

Note especially Fowler who teaches the use of spreader rollers 28(column 3, lines 1 -134 and column 4, lines 1-35) as well as a bottomspine 33 to separate the folds.

Curry uses a shaped guide, as well as lateral vacuum conduits foropening his top edges (see FIG. 3).

Nelson (column 2, line 25) uses rollers, V-trough and opener I7.Hathaway (FIGS. 38 and 40; page 7, lines 81-89) uses a horizontal probe163.

Livingston uses a horizontal conveyor belt and a V-shaped opener.

Snyder uses a stationary horizontal plate 15, the newspapers beingadvanced in a horizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the foldednewspaper is advanced in a vertical plane, such that its foldedmidsection is supported upon an endless belt. The bottom sides adjacentthe folded edge are rotatably grabbed by a plurality of rollersrotatably synchronized with the speed of the advancing belt. During thisadvancing, the leading edge of the advancing newspaper is engaged by apointed probe which parts the free top and bottom edges of the newspaperfrom the vertical plane. The free edges are thus separated prior tostufl'mg. The method is characterized by its continuous in-linetechnique, avoiding the necessity for large floor space, and itsrelative simplicity which avoids the necessity for large capitalexpenditllI'C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of thepresent method for separating a newspaper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a proposed advancing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation; showing the probing of the newspaper leadingedge during advancing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of an adjustable probing device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the positioning roller;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of the separating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the support baffle; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan, showing the drive mechanism for the positioningroller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the present methodof separating a newspaper is schematically illustrated, newspaper 10being advanced in a vertical plane by means of endless belt 12, thenrotatably grabbed at sides adjacent the folded midsection by rollers 16and pointedly probed at the leading upper edge by means of adjustableprobe 14 which separates the folded sheets.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a fragmentary side elevation of a proposedmechanism for advancing newspaper 10 in a vertical plane, comprising anendless belt 12 mounted upon rollers 108 and 110, supported respectivelyupon shafts 76 and 86. These shafts may be supported in identicalbracket 78, 88 affixed to table ends 46. Belt 12 is mounted to rotatebetween adjustable top side members 92 and 90. The newspaper guidebaffle 18 includes a substantially vertical portion engaging the bottompart of the paper and a diverging upper portion 56 having an opticalhorizontal flange 58. Positioning and grabbing rollers 16 extend throughcutouts 20 in the bottom edges of baffle 18 to engage the newspapersides.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, rollers 16 may be identically constructed, forexample, to have a bevel of 10, 4, and 0 on their sides, while beingmounted upon shafts 22, secured to universal joints 24, in turnconnected to drive shafts 26. Shafts 26 are secured to drive pulleys 28.The driving mechanism for roller 16 is illustrated in FIG. 8, shafts 26extending through plate 44 to engage drive pulleys 28. Drivebelt 34extends around the pulleys 28 and is tightened by means of pressurizingrollers 30. A motor 40 and pulley arrangement 42, 36, and 34, usingbelts 38 and 39, may drive differential 32 to engage drive pulleys 28,so as to rotate rollers 16 synchronously with the speed of belt 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, belt 12 may be driven by motor 84, havingdrive pulley 86 and drive belt 82, engaging driven pull'ey attached toshaft 76.

The separating probe 14 is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3

and 4, as including a teflon or like probing element 14, having apointed end 58, pivotably supported upon shaft 60. A compression spring62 may be secured at one end within shaft 60 and engaging knurled nut 64at its top, so as to vary pressurization in a lateral direction upon theprobe. Keyway 68, or the like, and locknut 66 provide for lateraladjustment of the probe in a variety of directions with respect to thelongitudinal axis of belt 12 and according to the bulk of the paperbeing separated.

Bracket 70 in the shank of the shaft, compression spring 72, and locknut74 enable angular adjustment of probe 14 to a variety of angles ofattack of the newspaper leading edge.

As will be apparent, the distance of the probe from the end of thenewspaper, the height of the probe point with respect to the height ofthe edge of the newspaper, as well as the lateral angle of the probewith respect to the axis of the advancing paper, and the vertical angleof the probe may be varied to accommodate different types of paper. Belt12 speed and rate of rotation positioning rollers 16 may be varied tokeep up with the printing press speed. Also, a stuffing baffle 52 havinga slightly more divergent top 54 may be anteriorly positioned withrespect to the bafile 18, wires, or like mechanism (not illustrated) mayextend from the area of the probe 14 to the sides of channel 52, so asto hold the pages open as they are stuffed.

Positioning rollers 16 eliminate jamming on belt 12 and hold thenewspaper down while it is being lineally advanced and duringseparating. In one construction, the probe 14 is constructed from Nylonround stock 1% inches in diameter, turned to a 60 angle at its probingend and maintained at a 20 upward angle from the horizontal forpenetration of the advancing newspaper.

The rollers 16 are laterally adjustable to accommodate for differentthicknesses of paper and under controlled spring tension by adjustabletension spring 100, 102, and 104 on shafts 94, 96, and 98.

Manifestly, the baffle, belt, rollers, without departing from theinvention.

We claim:

1. Method for separating a folded newspaper having a plurality ofsheets, comprising:

A. lineally advancing said newspaper in a vertical plane, such that thefree top and bottom edges of said sheets are presented at the top ofsaid plane and the folded midsection is presented at the bottom;

B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottom edges of the sides ofsaid newspaper adjacent said folded midsection during advancing whileapplying a downward urging pressure thereon; and

C. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said newspaperadjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying adownward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets duringadvancing.

2. Method of separating a folded newspaper, as in claim 1,

wherein said lineal advancing is by means of an endless conand probe maybe varied veyor engaging the folded midsection of said newspaper.

3. Method of separating a folded newspaper as in claim 2, wherein saidgrabbing of said bottom sides is synchronized with the speed of saidadvancing.

4. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varyingthe angle of probing with respect to the free top edges of said sheets.

5. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varyingthe lateral degree of probing with respect to the longitudinal axis ofsaid advancing bundle, so as to accommodate bundles of varyingthickness.

6. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim I, including varyingthe height of probing with respect to said free top edges of saidsheets.

7. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including:

D. laterally confining the sides of said newspaper while rotatablygrabbing the bottom sides.

8. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 7, includmg:

E. continuously laterally supporting the sides of said newspapersequentially of probing.

1. Method for separating a folded newspaper having a plurality ofsheets, comprising: A. lineally advancing said newspaper in a verticalplane, such that the free top and bottom edges of said sheets arepresented at the top of said plane and the folded midsection ispresented at the bottom; B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottomedges of the sides of said newspaper adjacent said folded midsectionduring advancing while applying a downward urging pressure thereon; andC. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said newspaperadjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying adownward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets duringadvancing.
 2. Method of separating a folded newspaper, as in claim 1,wherein said lineal advancing is by means of an endless conveyorengaging the folded midsection of said newspaper.
 3. Method ofseparating a folded newspaper as in claim 2, wherein said grabbing ofsaid bottom sides is synchronized with the speed of said advancing. 4.Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying theangle of probing with respect to the free top edges of said sheets. 5.Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying thelateral degree of probing with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidadvancing bundle, so as to accommodate bundles of varying thickness. 6.Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including varying theheight of probing with respect to said free top edges of said sheets. 7.Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 1, including: D. laterallyconfining the sides of said newspaper while rotatably grabbing thebottom sides.
 8. Method of separating a newspaper, as in claim 7,including: E. continuously laterally supporting the sides of saidnewspaper sequentially of probing.